Red Sox Promote Top Prospect; Make Slugger Youngest Player In High-A

The Boston Red Sox received high praise when they snagged then-high school outfielder Roman Anthony in the supplemental second round of the 2022 Major League Baseball Draft. 

The 19-year-old slugger was renowned for his combination of raw power, advanced approach at the plate and quality defensive ability. He also has the frame to back it up, standing at 6-foot-3, 200 pounds.

The Red Sox promoted Anthony from Single-A Salem to High-A Greenville on Tuesday, making him the youngest player in the league. 

He's one of six 19-year-old position players in High-A ball but five months younger than Baltimore Orioles top prospect Jackson Holliday, who is now the second-youngest in High-A. The other four will be turning 20 in the next couple of months. 

Despite his fast rise, Anthony has not had a great season. He hit .228 with 11 extra-base hits including a home run, 18 RBIs and a .692 OPS in 42 games for Salem. The young slugger did have an encouraging and even 38-to-38 strikeout-to-walk ratio. 

Anthony is the Red Sox's No. 9 prospect according to MLB Pipeline and was surprisingly ranked as the No. 49 overall prospect on ESPN's latest ranking. He is not listed on Baseball America's or MLB Pipeline's top 100 lists.

There's clearly some disparity on Anthony's projected future but he's a highly regarded prospect and will have a chance to fast-track his development with a strong showing with the Greenville Drive.